Kelsey Mitchell
Papers
2
Total Citations
57
H-Index
2
About
Kelsey Mitchell is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, ethorobotics, and comparative social bonding. Her work fundamentally reimagines how we understand attachment by drawing powerful parallels between human–animal and human–robot relationships. In her highly cited 2021 multidisciplinary review, Mitchell established a groundbreaking framework using human–dog bonds as a model to explore human–robot attachment, offering a novel lens for designing socially intelligent machines. This work, with 49 citations, has become a touchstone for researchers in both robotics and animal behavior. Her more recent empirical study directly compared social bonding with living dogs versus their robotic replicas (AIBOs), revealing that dogs outperform robots as social companions—a finding with profound implications for the design of future robotic pets and therapeutic aids. By challenging assumptions about technological substitution, Mitchell’s research highlights the irreplaceable qualities of biological companionship while guiding the ethical development of robots meant to support, not replace, social connection. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of companionship in an increasingly automated world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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